Because your uncle could not compose the music of the ten commandments? By scheduling problems? Due to health problems? Who proposed the name of Elmer Bernstein for this movie? I have understood that Cecil B. DeMille was not sure if it was the right composer for film.

Because your uncle could not compose the music of the ten commandments? By scheduling problems? Due to health problems? Who proposed the name of Elmer Bernstein for this movie? I have understood that Cecil B. DeMille was not sure if it was the right composer for film.

I do not know why my uncle couldn't score The Ten Commandments. Since the film was released in 1956, the year Victor Young died, it could have been that he was swamped with work as he was scoring several pictures at once. His health was not the problem as his sudden death was just that, sudden and unexpected especially since he was only 57 years old. DeMille was a fan of my uncle's. He liked him as much socially as he did as a composer for his epic films.

I do not mean to contradict VELVETEYES. I am only reporting what others said. I just watched a documentary about the making of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS today which is included in that big 6-disc DVD/Blu-Ray set. In it, it is stated that Elmer Bernstein was contracted to do some dances and chants that were needed during the shooting of the film, and Victor Young was supposed to do the underscore. The documentary then shows an interview with Bernstein, who says that Victor became seriously ill during the shooting of the film, and approached Bernstein on the Paramount lot and told him that there was no way he was going to able to do the film, and that if he (Bernstein) had any way of getting the job, to go for it. Bernstein then says it was the music director at Paramount who suggested him to DeMille. (Bernstein only refers to him as "Roy," but does not give his last name.)

Another question, which I know I've asked before in some other TEN COMMANDMENTS thread, is, does anyone have access to the printed score? If so, can they confirm that Bernstein wrote the overture that precedes the film? To my ears, it never really sounded like Bernstein, and indeed, reflects none of Bernstein's themes from the rest of the score.

Bernstein then says it was the music director at Paramount who suggested him to DeMille. (Bernstein only refers to him as "Roy," but does not give his last name.).

"Roy" would most likely be Roy Trigue Fjastad, who was head of the music department at Paramount. Mr Fjastad was born in 1905 and died in 1957. He succeeded Louis Lipstone as music department chief in 1954.

Bernstein then says it was the music director at Paramount who suggested him to DeMille. (Bernstein only refers to him as "Roy," but does not give his last name.).

"Roy" would most likely be Roy Trigue Fjastad, who was head of the music department at Paramount. Mr Fjastad was born in 1905 and died in 1957. He succeeded Louis Lipstone as music department chief in 1954.

Cheers Chris

Chris, that is absolutely correct. It was Roy Fjastad who became this pivotal figure in giving Elmer Bernstein the big break at Paramount that led to him getting the assignment for The Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, Fjastad died suddenly of a heart attack not all that long afterwards.